EP 0935427 A2 19990818 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF TOBACCO
Title (en)
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF TOBACCO
Title (de)
VERFAHREN UND EINRICHTUNG ZUR VERBESSERUNG VON TABAK
Title (fr)
PROCEDE ET APPAREILLAGE DESTINES A UNE AMELIORATION DU TABAC
Publication
Application
Priority
- EP 9705240 W 19970923
- ZA 968026 A 19960923
Abstract (en)
[origin: WO9814077A2] A tobacco enhancement apparatus comprises a tunnel having a vibratory conveyor floor, and an inlet for receiving unexpanded tobacco shreds. A steaming and swirling station is located downstream of the inlet and comprises an array of overhead steam nozzles arranged above the floor for steaming and expanding the shreds. The steam nozzles are positioned and angled to create vortices amongst the shreds. A conditioning venturi station is located downstream of the steaming station for prolonging the exposure of the expanded tobacco shreds to conditions of increased vapour pressure. A setpoint controller is provided for automatically monitoring and adjusting the downward angle of the steam nozzles, the steam pressure, the height of the nozzles, the height of the venturi station and the temperature of the expanded tobacco.
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
A24B 3/18 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP US)
A24B 3/182 (2013.01 - EP US); Y10S 131/901 (2013.01 - EP US)
Citation (search report)
See references of WO 9814077A2
Designated contracting state (EPC)
BE DE FR GB IT LU NL
DOCDB simple family (publication)
WO 9814077 A2 19980409; WO 9814077 A3 19980709; AU 5853398 A 19980424; AU 718663 B2 20000420; CA 2266462 A1 19980409; CA 2266462 C 20070410; DE 69718809 D1 20030306; DE 69718809 T2 20030904; EP 0935427 A2 19990818; EP 0935427 B1 20030129; JP 2001501820 A 20010213; JP 3725175 B2 20051207; MY 123829 A 20060630; US 6053174 A 20000425
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 9705240 W 19970923; AU 5853398 A 19970923; CA 2266462 A 19970923; DE 69718809 T 19970923; EP 97954340 A 19970923; JP 51620598 A 19970923; MY PI19974403 A 19970923; US 14791899 A 19990628